China has prohibited the entry of foreign nationals as a preventive measure against the resurgence of coronavirus in the country, where the virus was initially detected in December 2019.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday, March 26, that the ban would take effect from Saturday, March 28. The duration of the ban has not been specified, but the agency stated that the measures would be adjusted based on the evolving situation and announced accordingly.
Non-citizens with valid visa and residence permits will be restricted from entering the country, with exemptions for diplomats, individuals providing essential economic, scientific, or technological services, and those offering emergency humanitarian support.
Despite a decrease in new cases within China, the country has experienced a rise in “imported cases.” On Thursday, 55 new cases were reported in China, with 54 originating from overseas.
As of Friday, March 27, the Chinese National Health Commission has confirmed 81,340 cases of COVID-19, resulting in 3,292 deaths.
Global confirmed cases have surpassed 511,000, with the death toll exceeding 23,000, and nearly 121,000 patients having recovered, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University in the U.S.